For some reason, since reading the phrase “cat shark” I can’t help but keep thinking “Cat Shark’s Mullet!” Because… because… there’s a guy called Pat Sharp, which sounds like Cat Shark, who used to be on tv when I was a kid…. and he had a mullet.
*hums the Funhouse themetune*

Er, regarding the robot thing. I actually enjoy reading that stuff, but that’s because I tend to connect best with beings who were created–robots, cyborgs, golems, that kind of thing. (There’s a lot of interesting connections in how fiction treats, “what measure is the soul of a robot?” and how my local society treats, “what measure is the soul of an alter?”) THAT’S why I find folks like Zarat so creepy, because they don’t actually want to deal with an artificial person, just a mindless, happy extension of themselves.

For me, part of the cool stuff about robot love stories is the robot being treated WITH sapience and the ability to say no. Maybe it’s not human in its way of interacting with and conceptualizing the world, but it still has its own boundaries and desires. And that’s really cool to read about!

Plus, uh. Most robots would have absolutely no reason to have sex the way humans would, so I just find it interesting to read about more creative ways of having fun. <.< I get sick of Tab A, Slot B, you know?

My issue isn’t with the desire to fuck robots (not my thing, but hey, whatever), it’s with the idea that the robots will replace an entire gender and then they’ll be sorry (so they should do what we want now or else). The attempted manipulation and revenge parts of the fantasy, in other words.

Seconded. I was reading the Oh-noes-Canada-is-outlawing-sexbots threads from January, and it was in one of those (I think) you mentioned how many Real Dolls are sent back for repairs – not just wear and tear, but extreme damage, knife damage, done to the breasts and genitals.

I wouldn’t trust a man who does that not to escalate to living beings. Mind you, if robots had the sort of development these guys fantasise about, mistreating one might just result in rageboner dude really regretting trying it. Sexbots of Death, anyone?

@Falconer – sweaters (jumpers, you heathen ‘Murricans) are knitted in my mind, not fleecy, so can’t help with suggestions there.

@neuroticbeagle – it’s okay, I didn’t assume Creepy Taxidermy Creep had killed the cat; it was doing that with an animal’s body (especially an animal he was presumably fond of) that disgusted me.

My feeling on fleece sweaters is that they’re one of those things where there’s no point trying to get fancy. Go to American Eagle/Abercrombie/similar store, though I think finding one that has a zip and no hood may be a bit of a pain.

I’m currently looking for fleece sweaters with elbow or 3/4 sleeves, because I hate wearing long sleeves when I’m typing. Not much luck so far so if anyone has any suggestions…

In “That Hideous Strength”, C.S. Lewis includes a weird detail about the people who live in the Moon who only have sex with ‘bots, and use technology for having children. This is depicted as a bad thing, because it goes against God’s plan. Lewis had some odd ideas about human sexuality, to put it mildly.

how many Real Dolls are sent back for repairs – not just wear and tear, but extreme damage, knife damage, done to the breasts and genitals.

O_O
…
I refuse to believe this. No.
*hides away in 80’s music*
I wonder if this would be so relaxing to me if I’d ever seen Miami Vice?

In an entirely unrelated note, I’ve discovered that editors must be masochists. I’ve spent the last three hours editing an ebook to de-awful the formatting and get rid of the typoes. AUGH! 1/6th complete and I have at least 20 others to do before I can read them without cringing. At least it’s mostly formatting – that’s pretty quick work. Still, it’s a good way for insomnia-mode me to exhaust myself. Good night, peoples.

@Argenti
If it’ll take your mind off things (because it would be 100% altruistic :P) I’ll convert them all to rtfs, put them on my google drive and send you the link. Don’t feel obliged, though – ’tis a grave horror you’ll be seeing, in the face of a cheap ebook. Either way, thanks for the offer.
I hope your hearing goes in your favour, btw.

We Hunted the Mammoth tracks and mocks the white male rage underlying the rise of Trump and Trumpism. This blog is NOT a safe space; given the subject matter -- misogyny and hate -- there's really no way it could be.